A series of sectarian bomb and gun attacks claimed the lives of at least 25
people as terrorists struck at Shia Pakistanis gathering for a major
festival, heightening security fears as world leaders arrived in Islamabad
for a summit of developing countries.

In the worst attack, police officials said 23 people were killed late on Wednesday night in the capital's neighbouring city of Rawalpindi.

Islamabad is already in lockdown for a D8 summit, bringing together the leaders of eight mostly Muslim countries. Thursday has been declared a holiday to keep people out of the city and thousands of extra police are on duty.

The Egyptian President, Mohamed Morsi, had been due to attend but has now opted to remain in Cairo to monitor the truce brokered between Hamas and Israel.

Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, president of Iran, and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, prime minister of Turkey, are among the leaders who have arrived for Thursday summit.